Working practices and job satisfaction of Victorian dental hygienists

Abstract

Background: Increasing demand for dental services and a projected shortage in the oral health workforce in Victoria has focused attention on dental hygienists as one mechanism for increasing the supply of dental services. Understanding the dental hygienist workforce is essential in order to plan effectively for the future delivery of dental services in Victoria.Methods: A postal survey of a random sample of Victorian dental hygienists was undertaken in 2006. Data on hygienists’ demographic characteristics, current dental practice, history of career breaks, aspects of clinical practice and job satisfaction were collected.Results: A response rate of 77 per cent was achieved. A total of 94.0 per cent of hygienists were currently working as a dental hygienist, working an average of 28.7 hours per week. Younger hygienists worked longer hours than their older colleagues. Career breaks were common, with 44.8 per cent reporting a career break of greater than one month, predominantly for child rearing, with a mean career break of 20.1 months. Hygienists reported a high level of satisfaction with most aspects of their employment.Conclusions: Victorian hygienists worked predominantly in private practices in metropolitan Melbourne, providing a range of preventive and periodontal services. Understanding the working patterns of dental hygienists is critical as hygienist numbers expand in the future, in order to undertake thorough evidence‐based workforce planning.

Career satisfaction of Jordanian dental hygienists

“…This finding is in contrast to which (5) where there is no problem between males and females in searching for a job as a dental hygienist. These findings are closely similar to those results reported by Victorian dental hygienists where employment conditions and salary level were ranked in their satisfaction scale (14). These results are similar to previous studies (8,14), in which dental hygienists were generally satisfied with their location of practice and working hours.…”

“…The findings showed that the most of Jordanian dental hygienists generally satisfied with location of work and flexibility in working hours. These results are similar to previous studies (8,14), in which dental hygienists were generally satisfied with their location of practice and working hours.…”

“…This is lower than of those in United Kingdom where 47.0% of participants were employed in private practice (12). In Hong Kong, 40.0% of dental hygienists were employed in private practice (4), whereas in Australia, 91.5% worked in private dental practices (14).…”

“…In this study, Jordanian dental hygienists' workforce is predominantly 74.0% female. In Hong Kong, 40.0% of dental hygienists were employed in private practice (4), whereas in Australia, 91.5% worked in private dental practices (14). This gender profile reflects the workforce in United Kingdom and New Zealand (12, 13).…”

“…Older Jordanian hygienists were the most satisfied with support from employer for pursuing higher education and with the relationship with other dental hygienists in work setting, while younger dental hygienists in Texas (14) and who registered with General Dental Council (UK) expressed lower levels of career satisfaction (17).…”